Banner mounting apparatus



Aug. 2, 1966 H. J. GILMOURE ETAL 3,263,356

BANNER MOUNTING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 15. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. HAROLD J. GILMOUEE' y RONALD M. STEACHAN ATTOENEY5.

A g- 1966 H.J. GILMOURE ETAL 3,263,356

BANNER MOUNTING APPARATUS Original Filed NOV. 15. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. HAQOLD J. GILMOUEE' United States Patent 3,263,356 BANNER MOUNTING APPARATUS Harold J. Gilrnoure and Ronald M. Strachan, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Sales Promotion Products, Inc,

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Continuation of application Ser. No. 152,589, Nov. 15,

1961. This application Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 412,596 9 tliaims. (Cl. 40-125) This application is a continuation of applicants copending application, Serial No, 152,589, filed November 15, 1961, now abandoned, which was a continuation-inpart of applicants then co-pending application, Serial No. 70,500, filed November 21, 1960, now abandoned.

This invention relates to display banners, or advertising signs and more particularly to apparatus for mounting such banners, posters or signs on upright poles or suports.

p Advertising banners or signs of the type with which this invention relates are usually mounted in parallel pairs on poles extending therebetween and face in opposite directions. Such display banners, posters or signs are used extensively, outside on upright sign-supporting or light poles; in gasoline filling stations and similar locations, where their double faces are visible to traffic approaching from either direction.

Prior apparatus for mounting suc-h display banners, posters or signs, hereinafter generally called banners have proven undesirable and cumbersome for many reasons including, inter alia, the time consumed and ditficulty in mounting or installing the banners; the number and expense of providing the various parts necessary for such mounting with such apparatus; the fact that one or more portions of the mounting apparatus were not readily reusable with neW or replacement signs; and, more important the fact that in some or all of the prior art devices strong winds and weather and other forces to which such banners are frequently exposed, tended to break and/or become damaged or resisted such winds, weather and forces in such a manner as to increase the probability of damage and destruction to the banner itself.

The general object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a new, improved, more efiicient, effective and economical means and apparatus for mounting display banners, posters, signs and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and improved means and apparatus for mounting display banners, posters and the like which is more eflicient in operation, more effective for mounting and protecting the banners and more economical to manufacture, assemble and use.

Still further objects of this invention include the provision of improved means and apparatus for mounting display banners, posters, signs and the like which is equally adaptable for mounting one said banner or for mounting two said banners in parallel relationship on an upright pole extending there'between; which is useful for mounting or remounting the same or different banners and may be used a multiple number of times without deleterious effect on the mounting apapratus or the banners themselves; which more effectively, efficiently and completely supports the banners; which provides improved protection for the banners against the effect of winds and other bending forces exerted thereon; which supports the banner in longitudinal tension, which resiliently and yieldingly, with increasing resistance, supports the lateral edges of the banner so as to provide limited bending, without breakage, in response to wind, weather and other sources of force and pressure exerted against the lateral edges of the banner; and, which provides for limited longitudinal displacement of upper and/or lower edges of the banner.

Still further objects of this invention include the provision of improved means and apparatus, for mounting display banners, posters, signs and the like, which has fewer, simpler but functionally more effective parts; which may be easily used in the field by unskilled labor, and, which has one or more of the advantages hereinbefore set forth.

These and other advantages and objects of this invention will appear from the following description of preferred and modified forms thereof reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a banner supported and mounted by means and apparatus embodying a preferred form of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the banner shown in FIGURE 1 at one stage during the mounting thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a pair of banners supported and mounted by means embodying a preferred form of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of a preferred form of transverse brace for banner mounting apparatus embodying a preferred form of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section, viewed along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 and showing a preferred form of handle and hanger structure for banner mounting means and apparatus embodying this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a broken elevation of the handle and hanger structure shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a broken end view of the handle and hanger structure shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an elevation of a modified form of transverse brace; and,

FIGURE 9 is a broken, perspective view of a modified form of hanger.

This invention comprises means and apparatus for detachably mounting a display banner, poster or sign on a post or pole and/or a pair of display banners, posters or signs on a post or pole extending therebetween. Broadly the preferred form of this apparatus comprises transversely extending metal braces carried at the upper and lower edges of the banner respectively and having vertical sliding engagement with hangers mounted on the pole. The braces are tensioned longitudinally and have lateral flexibility whereby the banner is yieldingly supported in longitudinal tension and is yieldingly resistant to lateral bending forces exerted thereon.

More particularly, mounting apparatus embodying a preferred form of this invention and the banner mounted thereby are shown generally at I in FIGURE 1 together with the pole 2 upon which it is mounted. The banner is made from poster cloth, paper, fabric or other flexible material and a suitable message or advertising sign is painted, printed or otherwise applied to the exposed face thereof.

The mounting apparatus embodying this invention comprises means to support or mount the banner 4 in resilient longitudinal tension while yieldingly, resiliently and increasingly resisting the effect of forces or pressure exerted on the sides of the banner, from wind, weather, impact or other cause, and tending to bend or twist the banner about the pole 2.

Such means includes a pair of transversely extending brace members 5, disposed at or near the top and bottom edges 7 and 8, respectively, of the banner 4 and engaging the banner so as to exert a tension thereon when the banner is mounted as shown in FIGURE 1.

Each brace 5 preferably comprises a bent and shaped wire member, see FIGURE 4, having a central handle it), and transversely extending arms ii and 313, respectively. Handle 10 includes a base portion 14 and sides 16 and 17, respectively.

Sides 16 and 17 extend from base 14 toward the center of banner 4 and arms 11 and 13 extend angularly from the ends of side members 16 and 17, respectively, remote from base 14. The angles between base portion 14 and sides 16 and 17 are preferably substantially less than 90, shown at about 40 to 45, to the end that the angles between sides 16 and 17 and arms 11 and 13, respectively, are greater than 90 and preferably of the order of about 130 in order to reduce the strain on the brace and prevent or minimize breakage at the junctures between the sides and arms, respectively, of brace 5, due to lateral or bending forces extended on the banner and brace during use. Further, arms 11 and 13 extend from the ends of sides 16 and 17 in the direction away from the center of banner 4 at such an angle that the arms are substantially parallel with the adjacent edges of the banner when the mounting device is assembled and in use and tension is being exerted on the banner by the force by which the braces seek to return to their at rest condition. Arms 11 and 13 extend angularly from the ends of side members 16 and 17, respectively, remote from base 14 preferably at such angle that the remote ends 19 and 20 of arms 16 and 17, respectively, be substantially in a horizontal plane with the base 14 of handle when brace 5 is in an at rest condition, see FIGURES 2 and 4. Arms 11 and 13 of brace 5 are sufficiently resilient so that handle 10 is displaced relative to arm ends 19 and when the banner is mounted, so that the straight portions of arms 11 and 13 substantially lie in horizontal plane and the banner 4 is tensioned longitudinally by the force by which the braces 5 seek to return to their at rest condition.

In order to provide for convenient and eflicient engagement between the braces 5 and banner 4, as well as for easy exchange and interchange of new or different banners, while utilizing the same braces 5, the edges 7 and 8 of banner 4 preferably comprise or are provided with transversely extending pockets or sleeves 25, see FIGURES 1 and 3. The pockets preferably have open ends and are cut out or notched, as at 26, to provide an opening, through which handle 10 of the respective brace 5 can extend to engage the hanger when the banner is mounted.

The pockets 25 and braces 5 are so related in size that the brace is easily slid into the pocket from one open end, when the brace is in an at rest position.

The height of the brace 5 and of the handle 10 may vary over a wide range, at the discretion of the user. It has been found convenient, for example, to provide a brace 5 having a length (under tension) of about 36 inches, with a total, at rest, height of about 1 /2 inches and a handle height of about inch, and to form the same of steel wire or red having a diameter of about inch.

The arms 11 and 13 of braces 5 are resilient both longitudinally and laterally about the side members 16 and 17 and so both tension the banner, when mounted as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, and resist twisting or bending of the banner about the pole 2 with increasing resistance as the bending or twisting force increasingly bends or tends to bend the arms 11 and 13 in a horizontal plane. Accordingly, a banner mounted with apparatus embodying this invention can be subjected to much greater bending or twisting forces, without damage to the brace or damage to the banner, than is possible with prior art devices.

In order to support the braces 5 and provide for tensioning the same upon installation or mounting of the banner, hangers 28 are mounted on the pole 2 outwardly, upwardly and downwardly, respectively, of the banner edges 7 and 8. Each hanger 28 is secured to pole 2 by suitable means such as strap 33, see FIGURES 5 and 6. Strap 30 surrounds pole 2 and is tightened in position by any suitable means such as nut and bolt, 31 and 33 mounted thereon. Bolt 33 passes through the overlapped ends 30a and Stlb of strap 30, and bears upon the pole 2.

Nut 31 is mounted on bolt 33 and disposed intermediate pole 2 and the ends 30a and 30b and is displaced away from the pole 2, to take up the slack in strap 30 and hold the same rigidly in place, by turning the bolt to tighten the same, while holding the nut against rotation, since the end of bolt 33 is fixedly located by the pole. To this end nut 31 is conveniently fixedly secured to the adjacent strap end 30a.

Hanger 28 is conveniently adapted to hold handle 10 so as to provide for limited longitudinal movement or displacement of the handle 10 in order to facilitate erection of the banner and provide for limited longitudinal play or expansion of the banner and mounting apparatus while precluding accidental disengagement of the handle 10 from the hanger 28.

To this end, hanger 28 preferably comprises a bent and shaped wire member, see FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, having a transversely extending horizontal base portion 35, upwardly extending first vertical leg portions 36 at both ends of base portion 35, top portions 38 extending laterally and then inwardly (toward the pole) and angularly outwardly (away from the centerline of the banner) from the leg portion 36, second leg portions 39 extending downwardly from top portions 38 and adapted to be disposed behind strip 30 for securing the hanger to the pole, bottom portions 40 extending from the other ends of portions 39, away from the pole, and then generally toward top portions 38 to provide an elongated loop 42 within which the handle 10 has movement. The ends 44 of the hanger terminate sutficiently short of the top portions 38 to permit the handle 10 to pass therebetween when the mounting apparatus is assembled to hold the brace 5 in a stressed condition. The portion 40 of hanger 28 prevents the hanger from displacing, under the existing tension, toward the banner, relative to the strap 30 and portion 4t) is preferably more remote from the center of the banner than portion 35 to facilitate insertion of handle 10 in the hanger.

The handle 10 is inserted within the hanger by pressing the portion 41 of the hanger inwardly toward the pole with the handle and pushing the handle 10 toward portion 38 of the hanger to catch the handle between the portions 36 and 41 of the hanger and then forcing the handle upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 6, until it passes over the ends 44 and is disposed in the loop or slot 42. The handle is removed from the hanger by reversing the process by which it is inserted.

Thus the preferred form of mounting apparatus embodying this invention comprises only two specially fabricated parts (brace 5 and hanger 28), which are easily and economically manufactured, which are easily, quickly and economically assembled even by unskilled help, and, which may be used and reused over and over for the same or different banners, pockets formed at the top and bottom edges of the banner and conventional mounting straps for holding and supporting the hangers on the pole.

A pair of spaced hangers and straps may be left mounted on the pole 2 through many changes of banners by merely disengaging the braces 5 from the hangers, taking down the banner, removing the braces from the pockets of the old banner and inserting them in the respective pockets of the new banner and remounting the banner as herein described.

In use the banner is formed to size and provided with the pockets 25 and the desired sign or messages. At the display site the straps 30 are threaded through the upper and lower hangers 28 so that the hangers open away from each other and the straps are then mounted on the pole, in proper longitudinally spaced relationship, in the manner described above.

The braces 5 are inserted in the pockets with the handles extending outwardly from the respective edges through the apertures 26. The handle 10 of the upper brace 5 is then positioned in the upper hanger 28 in the manner described above. The assembly is then as shown assasse in FIGURE 2. In order to complete the mounting of the banner, the handle of the lower brace 5 is pulled downwardly and inserted in the hanger 28 in the manner described above. The banner is then mounted as shown in FIGURE 1.

When, as is customary, it is desired to mount two similar banners in parallel relationship so that the sign or message is visible from both directions two hangers are mounted on each strap on opposite sides of the pole 2, see FIGURES 3 and 5 and the second banner is otherwise mounted in the same manner as the first.

The brace 5' shown in FIGURE 8 is in all respects similar to brace 5 except that the ends of arms 11 and 13, are provided with hooks 5i and 51, respectively, which are adapted to protrude slightly to either side of the mounted banner to the end that the stability of mounted, paired banners can be increased and the deleterious effect of wind and other forces thereas can be reduced by causing the braces to act as couples in resisting bending, etc. by trying the adjacent hooks of back to back banners together with wires (not shown) or other suitable material.

FIGURE 9 discloses another form of hangers 28' bent and shaped to form the loops or slots 42' for retaining handle 10, in accordance with the precepts of this invention.

Modifications, changes and improvements to the preferred and modified forms of the invention herein particularly disclosed and described may occur to those skilled in the art who come to understand the principles and precepts thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the patent issued hereon should not be limited to the specific forms of the invention herein particularly illustrated, disclosed and described but only consistent with the advance by which the invention has promoted the art.

We claim:

1. In combination a display banner, a pole, and apparatus for mounting said banner on said pole, said banner having upper and lower edges with transversely extending pockets thereat, said apparatus comprising a bent and shaped wire brace disposed in each pocket, each said brace having a central handle portion and transversely extending arm portions, said handle compirsing a horizontal base portion and angularly extending leg portions, said arm portions extending horizontally from said leg portions, respectively, when said apparatus is in use and under tension supporting said banner on said pole and extending angularly from said leg portions in the direction of the horizontal plane of said base portion when said brace is in an at rest condition, each said pocket having open ends and a height sufiicient to receive said brace in an at rest condition and a notch through which said handle extends, said apparatus also comprising bent and shaped hanger means, and strap means detachably secured to said pole, respective strap means being disposed a predetermined distance from said top and bottom edges of said banner, respectively, each said strap means supporting the respective hanger means in fixed position relative to said pole, each said hanger means comprising a bent and shaped wire member comprising a horizontal base portion, first vertical portions at both ends thereof, a first horizontal portion extending angularly from each said first vertical portion toward said pole, a second vertical portion extending from each first horizontal portion behind the adjacent said strap means and parallel with the adjacent first vertical portion, a second horizontal portion extending from each second vertical portion outwardly from said pole and an end portion extending from each second horizontal portion upwardly toward the adjacent first horizontal portion to define longitudinally extending loops within which said handle of the adjacent said brace is removably disposed, said end portions of said hanger means terminating short of said first horizontal portions, respectively, a sufficient distance to permit said adjacent handle to pass 6 therebetween, said arm portions of each said brace being resilient both longitudinally and horizontally relative to said handle thereof.

2. In combination a display banner, a pole, and apparatus for mounting said banner on said pole, said banner having upper and lower edges with transversely extending pocket means thereat, said apparatus comprising a bent and shaped wire brace disposed in each said pocket means, each said brace having a central handle portion, and transversely extending arm portions, said handle portion comprising a horizontal base portion and angularly extending leg portions, said arm portions extending horizontally from said leg portions when said apparatus is in use and under tension supporting a mounted banner and extending angularly from said leg portions in the direction of the horizontal plane of said base portion when said brace is in an at rest condition, each said pocket means having a notch through which said handle extends, said apparatus also comprising bent and shaped hanger means, and means securing said hanger means to said pole, each said hanger means comprising a bent and shaped wire member forming longitudinally extending loop means within which said handle of the adjacent said brace is removably disposed, said hanger means being spaced apart a predetermined distance sufiicient to tension both said braces longitudinally when said handles are disposed in said loop means, respectively, said arm portions of each said brace being resilient both longitudinally and horizontally relative to said handle thereof. a

3. In the combination of a display banner, and the like, a pole means, and apparatus for mounting said banner on said pole means, the improvement of said banner having upper and lower edges with transversely extending pocket means thereat, said apparatus comprising a bent and shaped wire brace disposed in each said pocket, each said brace having a central handle portion and transversely extending arm portions, said handle portion comprising a horizontal base portion and leg portions extending angularly from both ends of said base portion out of the horizontal plane thereof, said arm portions extending horizontally from said leg portions when said apparatus is in use and under tension supporting a mounted banner and extending angularly from said leg portions when said brace is in an at rest condition, each said pocket means having a notch through which said handle extends, said apparatus also comprising hanger means and means detachably securing said hanger means to said pole means predetermined distances from said top and bottom edges of said banner, respectively, each said hanger means detachably engaging said handle of the adjacent said brace, said hanger means being spaced apart a predetermined distance and tensioning both said braces when said handles are engaged by said hanger means, respectively, said arm portions of each said brace being resilient both longitudinally and horizontally relative to said handle thereof.

4. In the combination of a display banner, and the like, having upper and lower edges, a pole means and apparatus for mounting said banner on said pole means, the improvement of said apparatus comprising bent and shaped wire ibrace members supported on said banner adjacent said edges respectively, each said brace member having a central handle portion and transversely extending arm portions, said handle portion comprising a horizontal base portion and leg portions extending angularly from both ends of said base portion out of the horizontal plane thereof, said arm portions extending horizontally from said leg portions when said apparatus is in use and under tension supporting a mounted banner and extending angularly from said leg portions when said brace member is in an at rest condition, said apparatus also comprising hanger means, and means securing said hanger means to said pole means predetermined distances from said edges of said banner, respectively, each said hanger means detachably engaging said handle of the adjacent said brace member, said hanger means being spaced apart a predetermined distance and tensioning both said brace members when said handles are engaged by said hanger means, respectively, said arm portions of each said brace being resilient both longitudinally and horizontally relative to said handle thereof.

5. Mounting apparatus for mounting display banner means having upper and lower edges on a pole and the like, said apparatus comprising brace means to be carried on said banner means adjacent said edges, respectively, and means detachably engaging each said brace means intermediate its ends for detachably securing said brace means, respectively, to said pole and the like, said brace means being resilient horizontally and longitudinally in all directions relative to said engagement with said securing means, said securing means tensioning said brace means longitudinally when said brace means are engaged thereby and said securing means are spaced at predetermined distance apart, said brace means comprising a central handle portion and transversely extending arm portions, said handle portion comprising a horizontal base portion and leg portions extending angularly from both ends of said base portion, said arm portions extend ing from the respective leg portions of said handle portion and forming a greater angle therewith when under tension.

6. The mounting apparatus according to claim in which each said securing means includes hanger means having slot means therein for the reception of the handle base portion of the respective brace means, said slot means providing for limited reciprocal movement of said base portion therein in the direction of tcnsioning of said brace means.

7. A hanger for mounting an article having handle means on a pole and the like, said hanger comprising a bent and shaped wire member having a base portion having two ends, a first leg portion extending angularly from each end of said base portion said base portion and said first leg portions being in the same plane, a top portion extending angularly from each said first leg portion and forwardly from the plane of said base and first leg portions, a second leg portion extending from each said top portion in parallel relationship with the associated first leg portion from which the respective said top portion extends, a re-entrant portion extending from each said second leg portion toward the associated first leg portion, and an end portion extending from each said re-entrant portion toward the associated respective said top portion to form circumscribed loop or slot means within which the handle means of the article to be mounted is disposed, each said end portion being resilient and spaced from the associated respective top and first leg portions sufficiently to permit the handle means of the article to be mounted to enter therebetween, but to prevent the handle means from accidentally disengaging therefrom.

3. The hanger according to claim 7 in which each said end portion is displaceaible away from the associated said first leg portion to permit the handle means of the article to be mounted to pass between said first leg and end portions and enter said loop or slot means.

9. Mounting apparatus for mounting display banner means having upper and lower edges on a pole and the like, said apparatus comprising brace means to be carried on said banner means adjacent said edges, respectively, hanger means detachably engaging each said brace means intermediate its ends for detachably securing said brace means respectively to said pole and the like, said brace means being resilient horizontally and longitudinally in all directions relative to said engagement with said hanger means, said hanger means comprising a bent and shaped wire member having a base portion having two ends, a first leg portion extending angularly from each of said base portion with said base and first leg portions being in a common plane, a top portion extending angularly from each said first leg portion and forwardly from the plane of said base and first leg portions, a second leg portion extending from each said top portion in parallel relationship with the associated said first leg portion, from which said top portion extends, a re-entrant portion extending from each said second leg portion toward said associated first leg portion, and an end portion extending from each said re-entrant portion toward the associated respective top portion to form circumscribed loop or slot means within which said brace means is disposed and engaged, each said end portion being spaced from the associated respective said first leg and top portions sufficiently to permit said brace means to enter therebetween, said hanger means tensioning said brace means longitudinally when said brace means are engaged thereby and said hanger means are supported on said pole at predetermined distance apart.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,553 6/1905 Porter 2473 1,090,040 3/1914 Fleming 24-73 1,194,610 8/1916 Fischer 40125 1,479,572 1/1924 White 2473 2,817,887 12/1957 Stump 24-73 2,954,626 11/ 1960 Kies 40-125 2,961,787 11/1960 Kies 40-125 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,979 9/1938 Netherlands.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

H. R. ROSS, Assistant Examiner. 

5. MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING DISPLAY BANNER MEANS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER EDGES ON A POLE AND THE LIKE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING BRACE MEANS TO BE CARREID ON SAID BANNER MEANS ADJACENT SAID EDGES, RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANS DETACHABLY ENGAGING EACH SAID BRACE MEANS INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID BRACE MEANS, RESPECTIVELY, TO SAID POLE AND THE LIKE, SAID BRACE MEANS BEING RESILIENT HORIZONTALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO SAID ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECURING MEANS, SAID SECURING MEANS TENSIONING SAID BRACE MEANS LONGITUDIANLLY WHEN SAID BRACE MEANS ARE ENGAGED THEREBY AND SAID SECURING MEANS ARE SPACED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE APART, SAID BRACE MEANS COMPRISING A CENTRAL HANDLE PORTION AND TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ARM PORTION, SAID HANDLE PORTION COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL BASE PORTION AND LEG PORTIONS EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM BOTH ENDS OF SAID BASE PORTION, SAID ARM PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM THE RESPECTIVE LEG PORTIONS OF SAID HANDLE PORTION AND FORMING A GREATER ANGLE THEREWITH WHEN UNDER TENSIONS. 